James Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 What are people's thoughts on organic food? Would/do you buy organic? If so, why? If not, why not? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
womanofdulwich Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I like the idea but not the price. I would not pay more for organic. I care more about the freedom given to the animals while they are alive than to whether it is organic or not. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605280 Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 But you do know that organic means higher welfare standards?e.g. organic eggs mean the chickens have superior space per bird & access to outdoors than free range? Organic standards are the highest welfare standards for livestock. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605313 Share on other sites More sharing options...
womanofdulwich Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 no I did not know that- how much more exactly? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605316 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Curtain Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I'm into Biodynamic myselfOrganic is sooo-soooo last yearhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/6230162/Is-biodynamic-the-new-organic.html Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605319 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voyageur Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I would pay extra for meat that had been reared in a pleasant and stress free natural environment and slaughtered in as 'humane' a way as possible. I must admit I am verging on veggie as if I think about the animal that I am eating and how it has probably died my appetite disappears. I wouldn't expect others to share my views though. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605323 Share on other sites More sharing options...
civilservant Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Voyageur Wrote:> I wouldn't expect others to share my views though.I seem to share your views exactly, on all counts! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605335 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmora Man Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 If it tastes good - I'll eat it. In my experience flesh, fowl and veg reared by a caring farmer and slaughtered appropriately will taste better. Game and line caught fish equally benefit by not being "farmed". Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605338 Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquarius moon Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 civilservant Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> Voyageur Wrote:> > I wouldn't expect others to share my views> though.> > I seem to share your views exactly, on all counts!I share both your views! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605358 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voyageur Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 aquarius moon Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> civilservant Wrote:> --------------------------------------------------> -----> > Voyageur Wrote:> > > I wouldn't expect others to share my views> > though.> > > > I seem to share your views exactly, on all> counts!> > > I share both your views!That's good to hear. I guess part of the point is though that I don't expect others to agree or to change their own views - my partner is a confirmed carnivore and is not concerned re provenance. I am happy to live and let live. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605378 Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 To all who share Voyageur's views, take a look at this:http://www.soilassociation.org/whatisorganic/organicanimalsI take it when most people hear the word 'organic' they think of food with less pesticides/chemicals/additives etc. The fact that organic livestock are raised with more space, more natural food, superior outdoor access, more space per animal etc. seems less commonly known! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605457 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec John Moore Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Hi JamesI think it's useful to point out that the first part of the Soil Association's strap line is healthy soil. A bit obvious, perhaps, but really important given that the organic approach to food production is based on sustainability. See this link for info about the serious soil degradation problem the planet faces:http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/04/12/why-soil-matters/Apart from that, organic food just tastes better, in my view, anyway.Alec Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605478 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveR Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 "The fact that organic livestock are raised with more space, more natural food, superior outdoor access, more space per animal etc. seems less commonly known!"....but obviously those conditions for raising livestock are not unique to farms that have gone to the trouble of being certified organic. My problem with organic food is that the process of certification implicitly draws a bright line between "good" and "bad" when the reality is less clear (for me at least). For example, the Soil Association promotes the use of homeopathic remedies for livestock, which kind of undermines their credibility. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605539 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Homeopathy for farm animals... whatever next, I thought? Reiki for sheep? Acupuncture for cows? Then I looked it up - and all this stuff actually already exists.Anyway, I generally avoid organic stuff, because I don't want to pay the extra price, and I am cynical about the benefits. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605554 Share on other sites More sharing options...
polla2256 Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 It's much better but has limitations.I don't beleive it is suistainable for everyone to eat organic, in the same guise however I think that over production of processed, chemically enriched, irradiated, preserved food is not the answer either.I eat organic where I can but generally go for the in season, grow together goes together approach.One thing is for sure summer fruits are for summer or I aint going near them. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605595 Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 .but obviously those conditions for raising livestock are not unique to farms that have gone to the trouble of being certified organic.Agree Dave but isn't it good to have a standard anyway? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605608 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonMix Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Well, recent research suggests that there really aren't any significant nutritional benefits for organic produce. Regarding safety, both organic and non-organic produce have pesticide residues below current safety standards but if you believe current safety standards aren't robust enough then I can see why you'd go for organic. While organic farms are more environmentally friendly per unit of land, they actually use more energy etc per unit of production as yields are so much lower. So that organic produce you are eating on average requires more resources to cultivate and therefore creates more greenhouse gases during its cultivation.I think the strongest arguments for buying organic concern farming practices (free range etc) and, if you think so, taste (which of course is entirely subjective). However, it?s clearly not the panacea some believe it to be.http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2012/september/organic.htmlhttp://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2012/120904.htmlJeremy Wrote:> > Anyway, I generally avoid organic stuff, because I> don't want to pay the extra price, and I am> cynical about the benefits. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605632 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec John Moore Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Interesting take on the purpose of standards in food production. Distinctions between good and bad are subjective, moral, views - in my view. Standards related to food production give producers objectives to meet in animal husbandry, use of chemicals etc and consumers reassurance that the produce meets their requirements, given an effective regulatory system.There are lots of different standards systems but they are actually about ensuring commercial viability of the ethical proposition more than moral judgements about good and bad. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605648 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl0wer Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 If you make a switch to organic food can I add that unless you buy it as locally grown & distributed as possible, you'll be paying some extra percentage for air miles. Many supermarkets are just flogging you fancier stuff from far far away, at maximum profit to themselves and far costlier than necessary to local economies and the environment.The box schemes don't air freight produce. Their associate farms in Spain and France send us winter fresh stuff overland and sea.Another point worth making, it's hard being an organic grower, & to exist free of supermarket buyers. If households order a veg box, the company will have supported the grower right the way through with extra help when needed, e.g. to prepare the soil appropriately, choose disease-resistant varieties, predict within a fortnight when stuff's ready to pick, & pay ahead of time for an entire field,- all to help this method's sustainability. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605660 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonMix Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Sorry, but food being produced locally doesn't mean it will be cheaper to produce / sell or that it will require less fossil fuels to be cultivated (including shipping). The reason why some imported food is cheaper is because it is easier to produce in other parts of the world due to climactic conditions, labor costs etc (thus requiring less fossil fuels during the cultivation process). Neither organic food nor locally grown food is by definition more environmentally friendly than their non-organic / imported counterparts. It is just not that simple. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605679 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveR Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 "Agree Dave but isn't it good to have a standard anyway?"I question the usefulness of a standard that bundles up sensible criteria with stupid ones, because sensible people will not want to adhere to it. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605680 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl0wer Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 "Neither organic food nor locally grown food is by definition more environmentally friendly than their non-organic / imported counterparts."That statement is not quite clear. One part is about whether organic growing is less environmentally costly, and the other is about whether local growing is less environmetally costly. Then you have included another point about imports and this again falls into two aspects, one which concerns non-organic production (I think). All parts of your post merit support with references, please LondonMix. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605686 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonMix Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 I'm not sure what's not clear. Food being produced organically or locally doesn't mean it is less damaging to the environment. Regarding organic food's environmental impact you can read the link to a recent Oxford university study in my earlier post. Regarding locally grown food there have been a few articles on this over the last few years. I'm on my phone but will try to find a link this evening. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605691 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonMix Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Regarding why locally grown food is not always 'greener' please see the link below. Production techniques / natural resources have a significant impact on the amount of fossil fuels required to cultivate produce. These differences can wipe out transport miles differences (you can search for the case study of Swedish local tomatoes vs imported Spanish ones).http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6064 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605699 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec John Moore Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 If you are saying it's complex, LM, then we would all have to agree on that. There's lots of potential for cherry picking - pun intended - your favourite bit of the system to make your point. I noted from my skim of the World Watch article that eating lower down the food chain would make a difference - something I pointed out in my earlier post. The article ends on a brief examination of transportation systems which could be made more carbon neutral but for a truly local to us example of how this can work you only need to look at the electric van used by Local Greens, the local veg bag scheme. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/27757-organic-food/#findComment-605716 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now